FOREIGN MUSICAL ARTISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE BEATLES, AIR SUPPLY, LADY GAGA

FOREIGN MUSICAL ARTISTS PERFORMED IN THE PHILIPPINES

Katy Perry, U2, Bruno Mars, Olivio Rodrigo and Guns N' Roses have all performed in the Philippines at venues like Philippine Arena in Manila. Bruno Mars performed multiple times (2010, 2014, 2018, 2023). Katy Perry performed there in 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018. U2 played at the Philippine Arena in 2019. Guns N' Roses did their show in 2018, [Source: Reddit, Wikipedia]

Justin Bieber performed in the Philippines,as part of his Purpose World Tour in 2017, which also included stops in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia in Asia. Lauv is a frequent visitor to the Philippines (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2025), Babymetal: did a Manila show in 2025. Westlife has stopped in the Philippines.

Among the artists that have met with Imelda Marcos are Air Supply, Matt Monro Jr., John Ford Coley and Sir Cliff Richard. The latter did a spontaneous duet over lunch with her. In the Marcos era the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila hosted the Bolshoi Ballet, Frank Sinatra and Placido Domingo.

Beatles Fiasco in Manila

The Beatles played in Manila in 1966 after they toured Japan. In Manila they were held up at the airport by security after they were accused of snubbing President Ferdinand Marcos. On 4 July 1966, The Beatles performed two concerts at the Rizal Memorial Stadium for an audience of at least 100,000 Filipinos. Danee Samonte, wrote in philstar.com: I was outside the stadium because I couldn’t afford the 20-peso entrance fee. I contented myself with the faint, inaudible sound of the Beatles, which was drowned out by the fans' hysterical screams. During the concert, The Beatles only performed ten songs. Their set lasted less than 30 minutes. The opening acts, which included the Reycards, Lemons 3, the Aldeguer Dancers, Pilita Corrales, and the Downbeats with Pepe Smith, performed for four times longer than The Beatles. [Source: Danee Samonte, philstar.com, October 9, 2011 \=]

Unbeknownst to The Beatles, the concert promoter, Ramon Ramos, had promised the Marcos family that they would have lunch at Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the Philippine president, as guests of the First Family. As this arrangement had not been made with Brian Epstein, The Beatles were unable to attend, much to the disappointment of the First Family, cabinet secretaries, senators, congressmen and VIPs who had come to welcome them. Apparently, the Beatles spent the afternoon leisurely boating in Manila Bay (which was pleasantly pollution-free and clear of human waste back then). Brian found out about it and attempted damage control, but alas, the damage was already done. \=\

The two concerts the next day at the Rizal Memorial Stadium were staged successfully and without incident. However, the following day, on the way to the airport, all hell broke loose. Their security escort had disappeared, so The Beatles had to carry their own gear and take a taxi. All courtesies and VIP privileges had been removed. When they arrived at the airport, there were no porters to help them and the escalators were turned off, so they had to carry their luggage up two flights of stairs. An angry crowd mobbed the entourage, causing injury. To make matters worse, their flight was delayed due to customs officials and airport personnel harassing them. When The Beatles were finally allowed to leave, they swore never to return to the Philippines — a vow they kept.

Imelda Marcos and Beatles Fiasco in Manila

Danee Samonte wrote on philstar.com: ““Being a big Beatle fan I have always wondered what the real score was. Was Mrs. Marcos really behind the unwelcome treatment the Beatles were given upon departure as alleged by most books and Beatle historians? Although Mrs. Marcos is a personal friend I never had the guts to ask her about the real score with The Beatles. Over special sushi, I mustered all my guts and asked Mrs. Marcos the big question that has put me in quandary for decades: Did she have anything to do with The Beatles manhandling issue? [Source: Danee Samonte, philstar.com October 9, 2011 \=]

Imelda said, “Being a big fan of The Beatles, I made representation with the Philippine promoter to invite them to lunch at Malacañang Palace so that I can personally welcome them to our country together with my family and friends who are also big fans. Honestly, I was disappointed with their non-appearance but later understood that there was a miscommunication and bore no grudges. When I heard they were being manhandled at the airport on their departure, I immediately ran to the airport to have it stopped. I remember reprimanding the airport manager Mr. Willy Jurado. I would never dream of hurting the world’s No. 1 band. Whatever motivated the people to treat them that way was not my doing. They could have done it out of sympathy and I think it was wrong. I abhor violence.” \=\

Air Supply in the Philippines

The soft rock duo Air Supply is very popular in the Philippines, performing there more than 20 times since their first visit in 1981. Over the decades, they have become a fixture of the local concert scene, returning regularly for tours and special performances, including multiple shows in 2024 and 2025, as well as a major multi-city tour in early 2026.

Formed in Melbourne in 1975, Air Supply the duo consists of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. They achieved global success with over 100 million records sold and a string of major hits such as “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.” Their signature soft rock sound and emotional ballads have earned them a lasting international following.

Their connection with Filipino audiences remains especially strong, with frequent sold-out shows in major venues. Recent concerts have taken place in prominent locations such as the Philippine Arena and the Newport Performing Arts Theater, reflecting their continued popularity across generations of fans in the country.

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Air Supply launched a special Philippine tour in January 2026, with performances in Iloilo, Laguna, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu. The duo has often expressed deep gratitude toward their Filipino supporters, praising their passion and loyalty—qualities that have kept them returning to the Philippines for over four decades.

Philippine 'Swifties' Flock to See Drag Queen Version of Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour didn’t stop in the Philippines. The Filipinos that got to see her secured tickets for her shows in Singapore or somewhere else. The next best thing in the Philippines was Taylor Sheesh. [Source: Allison Jackson, AFP, July 7, 2023]

Draped in a flowing blonde wig and a shimmering gold sequined dress adorned with tassels, Sheesh glided across the stage, recreating Swift’s signature moves while lip-syncing hits from the 2010 album Speak Now. The crowd—largely young fans—sang every word, many bouncing with excitement as they captured the moment on their phones, reliving songs that had soundtracked their childhoods.

Hours before the show, fans had already begun lining up under the tropical heat, eager to celebrate the release of Swift’s re-recorded Speak Now. Many wore purple outfits inspired by the album cover, along with playful cat-ear headbands bearing Swift’s image. One particularly devoted fan even carried a framed depiction of the singer styled as the Virgin Mary.

Behind the persona is Mac Coronel, the 28-year-old performer who has been impersonating Swift since 2017. Her popularity has surged in recent months after clips of her own version of The Eras Tour went viral online. “She's so very popular here,” Coronel said backstage, calling the Philippines a “Taylor nation.” “For every situation, there’s always a Taylor Swift song.”

Fans were very disappointed that Taylor Swift didn’t stop in the Philippines as part of the Eras tour. Social media overflowed with pleas, heartbreak, and determination. Some fans are already making plans to travel abroad for the concerts—including Coronel herself, who managed to secure a Singapore ticket with help from her cousin. “I’m gonna die,” she said, laughing, when asked how she might react to finally seeing Swift live.

While she hopes to bring her performances to more malls across the country, Coronel remains grounded about her place in Swift’s vast universe. “I don’t want to be compared to Taylor Swift,” she said. “Forever and always, I’ll be a Swiftie.”

Young Christians in Philippines Protest against Lady Gaga

In May 2012, young Christians in the Philippines protested against concerts by Lady Gaga despite organizers' assurances that her performances would not threaten morality. Associated Press reported: “About 200 Christian youths marched in Manila for a second straight day, holding placards urging the pop singer to "respect our faith, stop the blasphemy." The Biblemode Youth Philippines members plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the concert venue. They said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music, particularly her song "Judas," which they said mocks Jesus Christ. [Source: Associated Press, May 19, 2012 ^\^]

“Authorities in the conservative, majority Roman Catholic country approved the concerts, but said they won't allow nudity or lewd acts. Sold-out crowds and angry protests have followed Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Asian tour. Riot police stopped marchers about a kilometer away from the concert venue. Phalanxes of security guards stood on alert in front of the arena. "She declared a distorted view toward Jesus Christ and for us Biblical Christians it is offensive," said Ruben Abante, a protest leader. "Her music and everything about her is different from what our values are." ^\^

“Organizers from Ovation Productions said they respect the beliefs of critics but promised that the performances "will not pose a threat to their sense of morality and conduct." Under Philippine law, people who offend race or religion can be sentenced to up to six years in prison, although no one has been convicted recently. Fans younger than 18 were banned from concerts in South Korea over complaints her lyrics and costumes were too provocative, and she was denied a concert permit in Indonesia by police under pressure from Islamic hard-liners.” ^\^

Chris Brown Barred From Leaving Philippines Because He Didn’t Show for a $1 Million Gig

In May 2015, the singer and rapper Chris Brown was barred from leaving the Philippines. The issue stemmed from a complaint filed by Iglesia ni Cristo, which accused Brown of failing to appear at a New Year’s Eve concert despite allegedly being paid in full under a $1 million contract. Organizers claimed the absence was attributed to the singer losing his passport just before the scheduled performance. As a result, Philippine immigration authorities prevented him from departing after a separate concert in Manila. [Source: Joe Coscarelli, New York Times, July 23, 2015]

Brown’s camp maintained that the situation was a misunderstanding. His U.S. representative stated that the matter had already been resolved and that he was scheduled to leave for Hong Kong to continue his tour. Despite this, he remained temporarily grounded, forcing the postponement of another show and adding to a string of disrupted performances in the region, including a canceled concert in Jakarta.

While waiting for clearance, Brown went to Instagram, joking about his situation and even breaking into dance as he imagined explaining himself to immigration officers. Eventually, the dispute was settled, the hold order lifted, and Brown was allowed to leave the Philippines—bringing an end to the brief but widely publicized episode.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; “Culture Shock!: Philippines” by Alfredo Roces and Grace Roces, Marshall Cavendish International, 2010; Metropolitan Museum of Art; National Geographic, Live Science, Philippines Department of Tourism, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated March 2026